Energy dissipator



May 7, 1946- J. E. KEisTER ENERGY nrssrruon Fild May 16, '1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor .James E Keister,

His Attorney.

May 7, 1946. J. E. KEISTER ENERGY DISSIPATOR Filed May 16, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Irwve ntvor, James E. Keister-,

His Att orrjey.

' Patented Mey 7,1946

UN-l'rsnf s 'rA'i' v James E. Keister, Scotia, N. Y., asaignor to Gem' A eralEleotrio Company, a corporation of New` Yorky Application my 1s. 1942, serial No. 443,215

9Claims.

linvention relates to' energyv dissipator especially adapted for-use in testing high frequency radio transmitters and lin related applications.

One of the problems involved inthe factory testing of a radiov transmitter is that of providing a means of simulating the radiating antenna into which the transmitter is designed to operate. 'Ihis calls for a device which will absorb the radio frequency energy `in such a way that the amount being absorbed is accurately measurable. In addition, the device simulating the antenna must present to the transmitter thevsame eifective impedance as does the actual antenna.

In many cases it has' proven possible to use a water-cooled resistance of conventional type as a dissipating means. However, in connection with high frequency transmitters such as transmitters operating at a frequency on the order of 20 megacycles, or higher, simple resistive loads present several, difliculties. vIn the first place, it is practically impossible to connect the dissipator to the transmitter in such La fashion that no standing waves areV present, which circumstance leads to frequent arcing between the various high voltage components of the system. Moreover, certain types of resistance load such as water-box (ci. 17a-44) 'of the two structures in the manner shown makes it readily possible to `connect the two transmission line sections either 1in series or in parallel as'required by the application at hand and thus` increases the adaptability of the "dissipator as a whole.

The left-hand one of the illustrated transmissionline sections comprises an outer tubular-conductor I0, suitably consisting of copper or brass,`

which has arranged vwithin it a solid cylindrical conductor I I, this conductor being preferably, although not necessarily, concentric. witntheconductor Il. At their lower extremities the conductors vIl and I I are directly conductively'connected by means of a metal (e. g. brass) plug I2: extending between them. The upper extremity of the conductor I0 is closed by an insulating plug loads tend to be unstable in operation, which makes it difiieuit to interpret 'the test results obtained. Other conventional loading devices are not purely resistive at high frequencies.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved formv of energy-dissipatingv means which isespecially adapted for use in the high frequency range and which is highly stable and reliable in operation.

Briefly, the aforementioned object is accom plished by the use of a resonant transmission line section which is adapted to have a liquid of high dielectric constant and suitable resistivity circulated between its conductors andwhich is cori--` I4 which fits snugly over an extended part II of .the conductor Il, the part I5 being adapted to serve as a terminal for the conductor referred to.

By the use of plugs I2 .and il, the space within the conductor III and between that conductor and conductor II is substantially completely kenclosed and water-tight.

.The right-hand transmission line section" is identical with that described above and includes the combination of an outer conductor Il, anginner conductor I8, a terminal I9, a metal plug 20 and an insulating plug 2| vThe tubular con-l ductor I'I is' in direct electrical contact with the conductor ln'along -the line 23, and the two con-Y ductors may be soldered or brazed together along this line. Both the transmission line sections are supported on a common base 25.

serve as 'an energy-dissipating means. For'this e use, 'it is desirable that each ofthe transmission 'line sections be adapted to simulatea pure resistst ructed to present a. substantially pure resistance load to the energy connected. I .v

`The features of the invention which I desire to protect hereinarepointed out with' particularity source to which it is to 'be m the appended eieims. 'rne invention itself,

together 'with fiu'ther objects and advantages thereof, may bestbe understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a verticalvsection of a dissipator suitably embodyingy the invention; Fig.- 2 is a transverse section taken on linev 2--2 of Fig. 1; Figs. 3, 4and 5 are schematic circuit diagrams illustrating the application ofthe inven- Ltion:v and Fig. y6 represents a modication of the invention.

\' The dissipator plained more 4 fully at a later point, juxtaposition shown in Fig- 1 comprises a pair Y of similar'structures, each-constitutin'ga reson ant transmission line section. As will be-exance load at the chosen operating frequency and be further capable ofv dissipating a relatively large amount of power atth'is frequency. It is`found that these results may be obtained in a convene. iently usable constructionby appropriately cho'osingthe dimensions of the inner-and outer conductors of the dissipator sections and by circulatling a liquid of relatively ,low resistivity (on the order of a few thousand ohmlcentimeters) and` water. The latter liquid has the virtue of ready J availability and is further characterized by an As -hee been previously indicated, it is' the intended function of the construction of Fig. lto

extremely high dielectric constant, this latter consideraton being important for reasons which will appear hereinafter. 'Theresistivity of ordinary tap water is about 3000 ohm centimeters at 17 C., which is a favorable value from the standpoint of producing losses (i. e. energy dissipation) of significant magnitude.

The physical length required to give each of the dissipator sections an effective electrical length of a quarter wave at the desired operating frequency is a function of the dielectric constant of the circulating medium employed between the inner and outer conductors. This derives from the fact that the frequency f of a propagated magnetic wave is defined by the following equation: l

where k is the wave length in the particular propagating medium 'and V is the' velocity of propagation in the medium. V is determined by the relationship :3 X 1010 in which e is the dielectric constant-oi the propagating medium. The dielectric constant of water is about 80; hence the velocity of propagation in water is From Equation 4 one may determine, for example, thatl a quarter wave dissipator containing water as a dielectric and adapted for operation at a fundamental frequency of 26megacycles should be about 32.3 centimeters or 12.7 inches in length. At this length the dissipator operates in resonance (for the frequency specified) and presents an impedance which is essentially purely resistive.

In determining the proper diameters for the conductors l0, Il and I1, I8, it is expedient flrst to decide upon the exact resistance which it is desired to have the lenergy-dissipating structure present to the apparatus for which it is to provide a load. By appropriate manipulation of the standard transmission line equations relative to concentric conductor arrangements and assuming the use of water as a dielectric medium, it may be shown that the dimensions of a quarter wave concentric conductor transmission line section required to give a particular resistance R can be determined by the following approximate relationship:

where R is the resistivity of the water employed, f is the operating frequency in megacycles per second, and

is the ratio of the diameters of the outer and inner conductors of the concentric line.

For operation at frequencies which are odd multiples of the fundamental frequency f (i. e.

in usingthe line as a multiple quarter wave section), we have 8.73)( 104Rf logiojg where n is the order of the multiple in question. For even multiples of the fundamental frequency the4 resistance tends to become very low and is expressible as follows:

R.g15.5 1-.71 10Rf (7) In general, the highest resistance for a given frequency will be attained by making that frequency the lowest frequency at which the dissipator will operate (i. e. by using a transmission line section whose effective'length is that of a -single quarter wave at the frequency in question).

Assuming, by way of example, that it is desired to provide an input resistance of 50 ohms with the most compact construction possible (that is, with a line having an electrical length of one quarter wave) it can be shown from Equation 5 that the individual dimensions of the outer and inner conductors of the line may suitabhr be 2.5 inches (inside dimension) and 0.5 inch respectively for an operatingfrequency of 26 megacycles.

The mode of application of the invention is illustrated schematically in Fig. v3. In this gure there are shown two electronic tubes 40 and 4I which are assumed to provide the final stage of power amplification of a high frequency radio transmitter desired to be tested as to its power output. For the sake of simplicity, the D.C. connections for the tubes are omitted.

The plate electrodes 42 and 43 of the tubes 40 and 4I feed symmetrically '(i. e. in push-pull relation) into a tuned circuit which is represented conventionally as comprising the combination of a condenser 45 and an inductance 46. The inductance 46 constitutes the primary of a trans-- former for coupling into an output circuit which includes the transformer secondary winding 4l and a tuning condenser 48.

In the normal use of the transmitter a connection would, of course, be made from the output circuit to a radiating antenna, but for the purpose of testing the transmitter prior to its being placed on the air, use is made of an energy dissipator of the type hereinbefore described. vAs illustrated in Fig. 3, this comprises a pair of concentric-conductor transmission line sections of which the outer conductors are indicated at 50' -and 5| It is assumed that the inner conductors,

whose terminals are shown at 53 and 54, extend concentrically within the conductors 50 and 5i and are terminally connected to these conductors in the manner illustrated in Fig. l. The length of the conductors is chosen in accordance with the considerations stated above to cause each transmission line section to function as a quarterwave resonator or, alternatively, as an odd multiple quarter wave resonator. With the connections indicated the two sections are placed in series across the terminals of the transformer output circuit so that their total resistance-is the sum of their individual resistances.

In accordance with the present invention, vprovisions are made for circulating a. liquid of high dielectric constant, preferably water, through the hollow conductors 50 and 5|. 'I'he source of such a liquid is illustrated diagrammaticallyas comprising a tank or reservoir 56 having a' conduitl (6) theload provided by the dissipator, a flow meter,

yindicated et is provided@ 'shew the l which liquid is passing throughthc dissipator.

rate at and thermometers II and l1 are associated with the inlet and outlet conduits to indicate the temperature rise of the `-liquidwithin the dissipator.'

By knowingJboth the rate of water flow and the temperature rise, it" is possible to compute directly the power input to the dissipator.

. Where low temperature water (i. e. tapwater)v is used as a dielectric medium, it provides a very satisfactory means for disposing of the heat developedwithin the dissipator so that with a rea-l sonable rate of'water flow, a dissipator of small `dimensions can'handle a relatively large amount of power without excessive heating. As a matter of fact, in a practical case, a two-section dissipatorhaving outer conductors each on the order of 12 inches in length and 21/2 inches in diameter assenso plifiers il! and III'.v lIn this arrangement the first stage of the tuned systemy comprises the combination of a condenser I II and an inductance, lli connected directly tothe plate terminals of the devices vIll and Ill. The intermevits has been found eepeble ef diesipeting at least 50 kilowatts of power at a frequency of 26 megacycles.

It is not practical in all cases to provide a vconcentric line dissipator having a resistance which is precisely matched `to the impedance of the output circuit ofthe transmitter desired to ily overcome by connecting between the transmitter and the dissipator a known form of impedance transforming device such as on openwire quarter wave transmission line of appropriate conductor dimensions and spacing. Such a line is indicated in Fig. 3 by conductors 1li and 1| which are interposed between the terminals of the output circuit 41--48 and the input terminals 53 and 54 of the energy dissipator.

While Fig. 3 illustrates the use of my improved dissipator in a symmetrical circuit and with the .respective dissipator sections connected in series, it may be employed in various 'other ways, and in Fig. 4, I have shown its application in an asymmetrical circuit with its sections connected in paral1el.- In this embodiment the liquid4 cir- -culating system is assumed to be used but is omitted from the drawings for purposes of simplicity. .v

lIn the arrangement of Fig. 4, asinthat of 4` Fig. 3, the final power amplifiers of a transmitting system are represented as three-electrode4 diate portion of the circuit includes a condenser Il! in parallel with a pair of inductances (e. g. transformer windings)' IM and ill, while the final component includes an inductance H2 in parallel with a condenser lll. the terminals of the latter element being directly connected to the gridsiit and' Ill ofthe tubes III and IM. Ihe plate electrodes III and lll of the lastnamed tubes connect with a radiating antenna (not shown). Y

To produce the desired wide-band characterl-istic of the amplifier it is desirable to load the input circuit of the tubes l and I, and in this connection, use may be made of a dissipator of the type which characterizes my invention.

f be tested. However, this difilculty may be read- Such a dissipator is indicated at |20 as having its,

component sections connected in series between the grids lll and Ill. 'In this use, as in those previously described, it is assumed that an aP-f propriate liquid such as water is circulated between the conductors of which the dissipator I2 is constituted. f

In -the various uses described in the foregoing the water-cooled quarter-wave dissipator exhibits the favorable properties of being highly stable in operation and substantially independent of the power being fed into it. Moreover, it effectively avoids the possibility of radiation, this latter advantage beingespecially important in the applicationsof Figs. 3 and 4. In both these latter cases, the fact that the outer conductors ofthe dissipator sections are solidly grounded obdischarge devices lo and Il. These feed through a parallel tuned circuit including a condenser 83 and an inductance 84 into a series-tuned output "circuit which includes an inductance 85 and -a condenser It. In series with the latter circuit there is provided a two-section dissipator of which the outer conductors are illustrated at Il and Il.V

the inner conductors being connected -at their terminals by a bridging conductor indicated at 90. With this arrangement the two transmission line sections are. obviously `in parallel between their input terminals-and ground. 'I'his connecviously precludes radiation from these members. while the inner conductors are clearly effectively .shielded las a'resultof being entirely enclosed.

A dissipator of the .type described has a relal tively broad resonance characteristic and maytherefore be used over an appreciable range of frequencies. However, itl maybe desirable in some cases to provide even a greater degree of flexibility, and this may be done by an arrangement such as that shown in Fig. 6 inwhich provisions are made for varying the effective length of the dissipator illustrated.

In this case, the quarter wave resonant section comprises an outer conductor |30 and a hollow linner conductor Ill having apertures il! at'one end through which a" liquid dielectric may be lntroduced into the space between the conductors. such liquid being appropriately supplied byl a .fluid-flow' connection (not shown) to the lower extremity of the conductor III. The liquid thus supplied iswithdrawn through an outlet duct i provided in connection with the outer conductor Ill. To confine the liquidbetween the conductors. there is provided an insulating plug Iill which seals the space between'the inner and outer conductors at one end thereof. A corresponding seal is'provided near the other end of the conductorsby means of an annular ring ill which is television transmitting circuit or the like in which wide-band transmission is desired. Theoircuit shown comprises a pair of inter-.- mediate ampliiiers lill and IIII which connect adapted to slide longitudinally of the conductors but which is enabled to lprovide a water-tight joint by the use of packing rings |40 and HI. 'I'hese rings, which may be yconstituted of any suitable packing material, such as leather, bear tightly upon theconductors |30 and lli but are adapted tope'rmit longitudinal motion of the ring Ill. such motion being produced, for example.

3 through e multiple-tuned eneua with bewerenby externally accessible actuating rods Ill. In

order that there maybe a short-circuiting connection between the conductors |30 and |3| in the region of the plug |31, a metal ring |39 having inner and outer spring fingers |48 is secured to the plug. The wiping of the contact fingers of the ring |39 upon the surfaces of the conductors |30 and |3I assuresl the existence of a direct electrical connection between the conductors through the ring. Accordingly, by adjusting the plug |31 longitudinally of the conductors by means of the rods |44' the effective electrical length of the dissipator may be varied at will, and in this way the range of frequencies within which it may be used can be considerably extended.

The transmission line sections referred to in the foregoing have been described as embodying a. concentric conductor construction since this has numerous advantages from the standpoint of simplicity of calculation and fabrication. However, the use of an eccentric conductor arrangement is by no means precluded, and the invention comprehends the use of any appropriate combination of mutually telescoped conductors. Under some circumstances, it may even be considered advantageous to use parallel conductors which are not in telescoped relation, although such a construction involves greater dimculty with respect to providing for the confined flow of fluid between the opposed surfaces of the conductors.

In the foregoing description and in the appended claims, the term "resonant is intended to cover both' series and parallel resonance and to apply to a dissipator in which the reactive components of the dissipator impedance are so balanced that the device simulates a pure resistance.

What I'claim as new and desire to secure by `Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A high frequency lenergy dissipator comprising a pair of conductors separated by a liquid of high dielectric constant and low resistivity, said conductors forming a transmission line section having an effective electrical length equal approximately to one or more quarter wavelengths at the frequency of said energy and being adapted for connection atone end to the source'of the dissipated, means for connecting the conductors .to one, another at a point displaced from said one end, and means for facilitating substantial longitudinal circulation of liquid dielectric having a n low resistivity in a confined path between the conductora-said conductors between said one end and said ypoint having a length equal substantially to one or more quarter wavelengths at the y frequency cf said energy.

3. A `high frequency energy dissipator com- 2\',399V,930 length equal substantially to a multiple of a quarter wavelength at the frequency. of `said energy.

4. A high frequency energy dissipator for use at or near a particular frequency comprising a pair of mutually telescoped conductors, vmeans forming a water-tight enclosure ofthe space between the conductors, terminal means for connecting the conductors at one end to the source prising aresonant transmission line section which y includes a pair of mutually telescoped conductors, said conductors being adapted for connection to the source of the energy desired to be dissipated n nal circulation' of a. liquid dielectric having a low resistivity in the said space, said section having a of energy desired to be dissipated, and means 'short-circuitally connecting the opposite ends of the conductors, said conductors having an effective electrical length corresponding approximately to one or more quarter wave lengths at the said particular frequency when the space between them is filled with water. y

5. A hi-gh frequency energy dissipator for use at or near a particular frequency comprisinga pair of mutually telescoped conductors and fluidflow connections for circulating a dielectric medium having a high dielectric constant and low resistivity between the said conductors, said conductors having an effective electrical length in the presence of said dielectric corresponding to one or'more quarter wave lengths at the said particular frequency.V

6. A high frequency energy dissipator comprising two similar structures each consisting of a pair of mutually telescoped conductors which are terminally short-circuited to provide a resonant transmission line section, said structures being mounted-in side-by-side relation with their outer conductors directly connected so that the transmission line sections may be readily connected either in series or in parallel, and there being iluid-ilow connections for facilitating circulation of liquid between. the respective inner and .outer conductors.

closure of the space between rthe conductors.. means associated with said second plug for short-1 circuiting said conductors ata point determined by the .position ofthe plug, and fluid-flow connections for circulating a liquid dielectric in the interconductor space between said plugs.

8. In combination, a source of highA frequency energy, and means for dissipating the said energy in the form of heat, said means comprising a-pair of mutually spaced conductors and a liquid of relatively high dielectric constant and low resistivity in the space between the conductors, the electrical length of the conductors in the presence of said 'liquid'being equal to one or more quarter wavelengths at the operating frequency to present a pure resistive load to said source.

9. In combination, a source of high frequency energy, and means for dissipating the saidv energy in the form of heat, said means comprising a pair of mutually telescoped conductors adapted to serve as a resonant transmission line section, `andmeans for circulating water in the space between the conductors, said conductors having effectiveelectrical lengths equal to a multiple of av quarter-wavelength at the frequency of said energy -whereby a. pure resistive load is presented to said high frequency energy.

JAW E.' KIIBI'ER. 

